The world stands at a crossroads in its relationship with energy and energy conservation.
The United States, according to estimates, wasted two-thirds of the energy it consumed in 2018.
But the U.S. is also where energy efficiency has saved the country from building 313 power plants.
The answer to “Why Conserve Energy?” is a multi-faceted, world-saving one. Let’s explore the benefits of energy efficiency and conservation to understand its importance.
Why Are Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency Important?
The world’s 7.7 billion person population is growing. It could reach 9.7 billion by 2050 and peak at nearly 11 billion around 2100.
Extra people means extra energy demands. Almost every year since 2000 has seen global energy demand increase between 1% and 5%. Should that overall trend continue, worldwide energy use in 2050 will be almost 80% higher than in 2020 — just when many countries are targeting net-zero emissions.
Burning fossil fuels drives global warming and climate change. In 2020, oil accounted for 31% of the world’s energy mix, followed by coal at 27% and natural gas at 25%. Extreme weather events are becoming more commonplace because of the climate change caused by fossil fuel consumption.
The world needs to follow several paths to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Government-backed increases in the use of renewable energy sources and decreases in the use of fossil fuels will mean fewer pollutants in the atmosphere.
As citizens, we are responsible for learning how to use less energy and use it more efficiently. Taking energy conservation and energy efficiency measures may sound restrictive, but they can actually be liberating. They can save people money on energy bills, improve health, and care for the planet.
Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency: What’s the Difference?
Energy conservation and energy efficiency are two pathways to achieving sustainable energy usage and reducing energy consumption. People often interchange the phrases, but they are different.
A light-emitting diode (LED) bulb uses less energy than an incandescent light bulb to produce a similar amount of light. This is an example of energy efficiency, so is an appliance that performs more efficiently.
Energy conservation would always be remembering to turn a light off when you’re last to leave a room. Energy is conserved rather than wasted lighting an empty room.
The amount of energy something uses comes in two forms: direct energy use and indirect energy use. A light bulb uses direct energy when we turn it on. It’s helpful to think about the indirect energy used to manufacture the light bulb when assessing energy costs, too, and when assessing energy usage.
What Are Some Benefits of Energy Efficiency and Conservation?
Energy efficiency intertwines with every aspect of our work and home lives. Energy usage impacts utility bills, air quality, and even a country’s economic development. Let’s look at how reducing energy waste can improve everyone’s lives.
What Is the Environmental Impact of Energy Efficiency?
As we’ve seen, fossil fuels generate the majority of the world’s energy. Burning coal, gas, and oil brings increased air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming.
Using energy efficiently would reduce energy demand and, therefore, the quantity of fossil fuels burned. Fewer CO2 emissions will help in the battle against climate change, which brings more extreme weather patterns and higher temperatures.
Warmer temperatures may melt ice caps, and rising sea levels could swamp many coastal cities, potentially displacing billions of people. Droughts, heatwaves and associated wildfires, stronger hurricanes, and changing seasons could all become more common.
All of this will impact the world’s animals, and multiple species extinctions may occur. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states its more than 95% probable that human activity has caused climate change.
Heatwaves, such as those seen across Western North America this summer, could mean increasingly frequent power blackouts as people turn the air conditioning up to combat soaring temperatures.
But there is hope: The International Energy Agency (IEA) anticipates that the COVID-19 crisis will push 2020’s global CO2 emissions to levels 8% lower than a decade previously.
Less fossil fuel extraction will mean fewer spillages like the Gulf of Mexico disaster in 2010. Mining less coal will leave countryside areas in pristine condition, allowing wildlife to thrive.
Furthermore, The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) thinks the United States has “some of the best wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, and biomass resources in the world … with a vibrant culture of innovation, plentiful financing opportunities, and a highly-skilled workforce, alongside an agile and entrepreneurial business sector.”
Are There Any Health Benefits to Energy Efficiency?
There are many direct and indirect health benefits associated with energy efficiency. Firstly, a healthy globe makes for healthy people — burning fossil fuels to create electrical energy is not a clean business.
The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) estimates that the average person could lose 2.2 years of life unless air pollution levels reach World Health Organization’s (WHO) guideline levels.
Breathing cleaner air in towns and cities will make them more attractive places to live and relax, encouraging participation in outdoor activities. People may walk and cycle more, improving their fitness and reducing emissions at the same time. A healthier population also requires less medical care.
A recent study found that if the U.S. electricity supply is 80% renewable by 2030, more than 300,000 premature deaths could be prevented by 2050.
And knowing you are doing your part to save the planet might help bring you a good night’s sleep too.
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Can Energy Efficiency Help Me Save Money?
Everyone from homeowners to landlords of commercial buildings can all enjoy lower utility bills through efficiency investments.
There are cost savings to be made in almost all buildings, which we’ll look at shortly. In brief, being energy efficient may involve some initial investment, but it will bring lower energy bills in the long term. A recent report estimated that a $520 billion efficiency investment in the U.S. could fetch $1.2 trillion in savings.
Minimum energy conservation standards for household appliances saved U.S. consumers more than $63 billion in 2015 alone, thanks to more efficient products.
Many homeowners and businesses are eligible for energy efficiency programs that offer practical or financial support for energy efficiency improvements. DSIRE — the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency — shows state-by-state energy efficiency policies and rebates available across the country.
With more than three million Americans already working in the clean energy sector, energy efficiency is mainstream. Let’s look at areas for potential energy savings.
Are We Not Already Energy-Efficient?
In 2020, the United States’ energy mix was fossil-fuel powered. Some 35% of energy came from petroleum, 34% from natural gas, and just 12% from renewable sources.
Industry and transportation each accounted for more than a third of all energy use, and residential use was 18%.
Space heating and air conditioning eat up half the average U.S. home’s energy needs. Water heating, lighting, and refrigeration account for just over a quarter, and the remaining 21% goes to cooking, washing, watching televisions, and using other devices.
Energy efficiency is already working, though. The typical homeowner uses more appliances than ever before. Still, factors like improved home insulation and more efficient gadgets have led to a 34% drop in home energy demands between 1980 and 2015.
Despite almost consistent economic growth, the country’s overall energy demands have remained stable in the last twenty years. Energy savings are already part of the mix.
This ongoing energy transition needs help from both political backing and energy-saving technology to succeed. President Joe Biden’s energy policy has stated that the United States needs to have 100% renewable electricity by 2035.
How Can I Be More Energy Efficient?
The world’s energy resources are precious. Here are some tips on how to conserve energy without sacrificing your lifestyle.
Don’t forget to look around for energy service companies that offer cheaper energy prices, and read our energy conservation guide.
Adopt More Energy Efficient Day-to-Day Habits
- Walk, cycle, and take public transport instead of a car — a very cost effective and simple start.
- When you’re the last person to leave a room, always turn the lights off — use motion sensors to do the job if you forget.
- Wash clothes with full loads using cold water cycles.
- Dry clothes outside if you can.
- Take shorter, cooler showers, and use a water-efficient showerhead.
- Regularly maintain all appliances, so they work efficiently, including HVACs, washing machines, dryers, and refrigerators.
- Repair faulty gadgets instead of throwing them away.
- Use fans and ceiling fans instead of the air conditioner if you can. Only heat or cool rooms you are using.
- Experiment with your thermostat settings — set too high or too low, and they can burn energy fast.
- Check for cheaper off-peak energy prices and run appliances then. Some companies even offer free electricity at night.
- Unplug electrical appliances at night apart from essentials like your fridge or security alarm.
- Cook in a slow cooker or toaster oven instead of the main oven, and put lids on pots on the stove.
- Fix any faucet leaks and drips.
Should I Buy More Energy Efficient Appliances?
Is your fridge in need of an efficiency upgrade?
Thanks to ever-improving energy-efficient technologies, many older household gadgets are not as energy efficient as their modern equivalents.
Energy Star-certified appliances come with efficiency standards that can save a lot of energy and help reduce your utility bill over their lifetime.
Energy-Star upgrades can include:
- Using energy-efficient light bulbs.
- Reviewing electrical items — including ovens, HVAC, boilers, furnaces, and televisions — for energy efficiency, and replacing inefficient ones with more efficient models.
- Investing in smart appliances and thermostats.
New technologies always offer opportunities for greater sustainability. More significant investments you can make include purchasing an electric vehicle or upgrading to a more fuel-efficient model. Your home is also a great potential energy saver.
How Can I Make My Home More Energy Efficient?
One of the most significant ways to save energy at home is ensuring it is insulated correctly. Insulation helps keep warm air in and cold air out in the winter and cooler air inside, and warmer air outside in the summer.
Strategies to create an energy-efficient building include:
- Draft-proof any air leaks around doors and windows.
- Insulate walls, attics, floors, basements, and crawl spaces.
- Open windows during temperate weather to avoid using air conditioning.
- Pull shades down to prevent summer sunshine from heating your home.
- Encourage winter sunshine into your home by pulling up the shades, allowing the sun’s natural heat in.
- Consider changing your heating system to a heat pump.
Heat pumps can save up to 50% on electricity use compared to furnaces and baseboard heaters. Heat pumps collect thermal energy and heat from the water, air, or ground outside and transfer it to heat homes and water.
How the Benefits of Energy Efficiency Work for You
Being energy efficient is a win-win for your home, your budget, and your well-being. The benefits of energy efficiency spread into all aspects of life, from improving the environment to reducing air pollution and tackling climate change.
You can make a considerable reduction in your energy usage by changing some habits and behaviors. Those savings can later be invested in more energy-efficient projects, like buying LED light bulbs.
The use of energy, energy security, and energy systems are themes that won’t go away soon. A quick review of your energy use can lead to a positive and continual circle of energy savings. With a bit of your own energy, you can improve your lifestyle and help to save the planet.
Brought to you by energysavings.com
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